Hello, my name is sham

In Arabic, sham means: the scent of soil after rain. A name full of life, peace, and resilience. But for the past 20 years, I’ve lived in Gaza under siege, where dreams rarely bloom, and life has been anything but peaceful.

I’m Palestinian, yet I’ve never stepped foot in my own homeland not in the way most people know it. I dream of a world where I can live with dignity and rights, just like anyone else. But right now, I haven’t survived the genocide yet. It’s not over. It weighs heavily on me every day.

For nearly two years, I worked hard to support my family, especially my two younger brothers, ages 8 and 12. I did everything I could to make their lives feel a little more normal until I lost my job recently. Now, even basic needs like flour, clean water, and electricity are unavailable. I risk my safety every time I try to charge my phone just to stay connected to the world.

I created this GoFundMe not out of impulse, but after months of waiting, hoping for another way. There was none. I need to pay off urgent university fees and the debts we’ve accumulated just to survive. My family includes nine people: my elderly parents, my two little brothers, my aunt, my married brother and his wife, their little baby girl, and me.

This genocide took everything from me. My beloved brother, who was martyred, my cousins, my city, my professor, my teacher, my friends, and over 80 members of my extended family. Every loss has torn a piece of me away. And yet, I still believe in a future worth building.

I'm also in desperate need of medical treatment for my hand, which was injured. It has now developed into a chronic condition, and I can no longer use it normally. But medical care is almost impossible to access here under siege.

This fundraiser is a cry for help not just for survival but to reclaim some control over my life, to heal, and to keep dreaming despite everything.

If you’ve read this far, thank you. Even sharing this story means more than you know.

With love and hope,

Bostan